Shawn Matthias goes by “Danger” in the Avalanche locker room. He had the same nickname in Toronto.
But he’s fitting in better in Colorado.
“It’s been a great fit. I fit in well with the style of play and the guys,” said Matthias, who was acquired by the Avs in a Feb. 21 trade with the Maple Leafs. “It’s been a good experience, a good opportunity, and this is a good team and I’m playing with two great hockey players.”
In 11 games with the Avs, the 6-foot-4 power forward has three goals and seven points — just three goals and 10 points fewer than what he produced in 51 games with the Maple Leafs.
“I wasn’t having the best year in Toronto, and I wasn’t sure I was having a good enough year for a contending team to really want me,” Matthias said of the trade. “When I got the call and saw the opportunity, I was excited.
“I’m enjoying myself again and it’s refreshing. I’m re-energized being here, surrounded by a great group of guys. It’s fun coming to the rink. We’re doing well. We want that last playoff spot, and we’re pushing hard. We have a great locker room here.”
Matthias is the left winger on center Carl Soderberg’s line, with right wing Gabe Landeskog. Among the three, Landeskog is the smallest at 6-1, 210 pounds. Matthias has excellent hands for a big guy.
“Besides contributing offensively, he’s doing a lot of things that go unnoticed and things that mean a lot to a team,” Landeskog said. “He’s so big, so strong, and so good with the puck. He’s tough to play against.”
Matthias and fellow newcomer and winger Mikkel Boedker, acquired from Arizona on Feb. 29, have been important additions up front — particularly now with centers Matt Duchene and Nathan MacKinnon out with knee injuries. The Avs are 2-0 without Duchene and 1-0 without Duchene and MacKinnon. Neither will play in Thursday’s game against the visiting Philadelphia Flyers.
Without their top two scorers, the Avs believe they still can win by playing a rugged brand of hockey with more forwards committed to playing the body.
“I think we can play different styles of games,” Avs winger Blake Comeau said. ” If we’re playing a team like Chicago, which is a little more offensive and not as physical, we’re fine. Or we can play an team like L.A., which is the opposite. I feel that we can play both styles of games.”
As for Matthias’ addition, Comeau said: “I think he’s been huge for us. He adds depth and size to our team. And he’s scored some big goals for us.”
Matthias, 28, could become an unrestricted free agent July 1. He was on that market last summer before choosing Toronto’s one-year, $2.3 million offer. Matthias said he would like to sign an extension with Colorado.
“Hopefully they can find a way to bring him back because I think he’s really good for this team,” Comeau said.
Said Landeskog: “I think we got our work cut out for us. He’s obviously going to be popular on the market.”
Mike Chambers: mchambers@denverpost.com or @mikechambers
PHILADELPHIA AT COLORADO 7 p.m. Thursday, ALT; 950 AM
Spotlight on Shayne Gostisbehere:
The 5-foot-11, 180-pound rookie defenseman and Calder Trophy candidate from Pembroke Pines, Fla., has one of the NHL’s most interesting success stories. He played three seasons at Union College in Schenactady, N.Y., and helped the Dutchmen win the 2014 NCAA championship with a 7-4 victory over Minnesota in the title game. Gostisbehere, 22, leads all NHL rookie defensemen in virtually every offensive category, including goals (16), points (39), power-play goals (seven) and game-winning goals (five). He leads the league in overtime goals (four).
NOTEBOOK
Flyers:
They arrived in Denver early Wednesday, before the blizzard. … They entered Wednesday’s games tied with Detroit for the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot. They lost a 2-0 lead in the final minute of regulation Tuesday at Columbus then lost 3-2 in a shootout.
Avalanche:
All 21 available players and the coaching staff made Wednesday’s practice despite the spring blizzard. Injured centers Matt Duchene and Nathan MacKinnon also made it to Family Sports Center and performed off-ice workouts. Both have knee injuries and have been ruled out against Philly and Saturday against the Minnesota Wild, which hosts the Calgary Flames Thursday.
